SM UU Clefable Stall by Manipulative

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Clefable Stall by Manipulative




Introduction
Welcome to the first SM UU Staff RMT! This team, built by Manipulative, was selected for its success during the qualifying and playoff stages of the first SM UU Ladder Tournament. Several players, such as Arifeen, Christo and Manipulative himself utilised this team in order to qualify for the Ladder Tournament playoffs. During the course of the qualifying stages, several other adaptations of this team popped up, such as the one used by playerW17 (who also qualified) that featured the same triple Water-type core and the same Clefable set, which this team popularised. The team utilises Unaware Clefable, a metagame-defining Pokemon which, in this case, doubled as a wincon with the use of Calm Mind. This team also featured a Regenerator core of Amoonguss and Alomomola that helped shut down popular stallbreakers, such as Mew and Gliscor, by stalling them out of PP simply by switching between each other. Amoonguss also got rid of any Toxic Spikes issues that this stall team would face. Mantine was a newly viable option that popped up during this generation due to its access to Roost, which allowed it to function as a good Fighting-type check and Defog user for this team. Blissey was added as a catch-all special wall, and supported the team with Stealth Rock and Heal Bell. Quagsire was the secondary wincon that this team utilised, and also acted as another deterrent to setup sweepers, such as Bisharp, Scizor and Cobalion. With four methods of shutting down setup, sweepers this team was incredibly hard to break down, which is why Manipulative's team essentially defined stall teams of the era and saw a large amount of success.

Team Members


Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell
- Soft-Boiled
Blissey is one of the most notable members of any stall team due to its monstrous Special Defense that allows it to switch into a multitude of threats, such as Nidoking, Hydreigon and Primarina, and beat them comfortably. In general, Blissey is an amazing balnket check to most special attackers. It is because of this attribute that Blissey is used as an early-game switch in to specially attacking Pokemon in order to scout their moveset. Once it has been figured out, other Pokemon can then be used to take them on. Blissey also provides the team with valuable utility in Stealth Rock and Heal Bell. Manipulative's Blissey ran a Bold nature in order to take Psyshocks from the likes of Alakazam and Latias comfortably, although a Calm nature is also viable as it allows Blissey to beat certain Pokemon, such as Specs Kyurem or Primarina in Torrent range, more easily.


Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Haze
- Roost
- Defog
Unfortunately, Blissey is at the mercy of Ghost-types like Chandelure and Gengar, which are normally a huge threat to stall teams. Fortunately, Mantine is able to fend them off relatively comfortably. Mantine's access to Roost this generation makes it far more effective as a defensive Pokemon and Defogger. For this team, Mantine is able to wall important threats like Keldeo, Infernape, Cobalion, Chandelure and Scizor. Mantine's ability to handle Infernape gets a special mention considering it was one of the biggest threats to stall teams at the time of this team's creation. Haze allowed Mantine to ensure that set up sweepers like Latias, Sub CM Keldeo and Clefable weren't able to pressure this team much. In fact, this was one of the first teams that showcased Mantine's valuable role compression. Having Water Absorb also proved to be useful against SubCM + Protect Suicune, as between it and Amoongus, that threat was able to be contained since Manipulative's team no longer had to waste PP by attacking it and trying to pressure it.



Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Clear Smog
- Foul Play
- Synthesis
Amoonguss forms part one of the Regenerator core that this team employs in order to tackle threats like Mew and Gliscor. Amoonguss performs other essential tasks for this team, the most notable of which is absorbing Toxic Spikes. Amoonguss also provides the valuable role of a pivot. Because it is running Synthesis in conjunction with Regenerator, it is able to switch into powerful Pokemon like Keldeo without worrying about losing too much of its health. Clear Smog is another method this team has of preventing any setup sweepers from gaining traction. Foul Play is an interesting pick here that was selected for its ability to beat Decidueye (assuming it had exhausted its Z-Move, which it would usually do against Clefable). In addition to this, Foul Play prevents Amoongus from being setup fodder for the likes of Chandelure and Scizor. It runs maximum Defense in order to better take on Pokemon like Crawdaunt and Decidueye. Synthesis is also a rather uncommon pick on Amoonguss due to its ability Regenerator, but is valuable here in order to ensure that Amoonguss regaining health isn't entirely dependent on its ability.



Alomomola @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpD
Impish Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Toxic
- Knock Off
Alomomola completes the Regenerator core and ensures that the team has no chance of losing to Mew or Gliscor. Alomomola’s role as a pivot is incredibly important to stall teams. Due to its ability, it serves as a very flexible switch-in to several Pokemon and does not have to deal with the concern of being weakened too quickly early on in a game. Alomomola was the teams most immediate response to Pokemon such as Alakazam. It is because of Alakazam’s presence in the tier that Alomomola has such high Special Defense investment. When this team must deal with threatening setup sweepers, pivoting to Alomomola and then into an Unaware Pokemon is generally an effective method of handling them, as due to Alomomola’s monstrous bulk, most Pokemon would need to boost its stats in order to defeat it. Bisharp is one example of this. Manipulative’s Alomomola does not run Scald, but rather Knock Off in order to be able to remove Life Orb from Alakazam, and with the team packing two other users of the move it is not such a heavy loss. Knock Off also means that Alomomola is far less vulnerable to stall breakers such as Substitute + Calm Mind Chandelure. In addition to this, Alomomola has done what it's always done and dealt with Pokemon like Entei, Infernape, Mega Aerodactyl and Krookodile.



Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Curse
- Recover
Quagsire is the first Unaware user this team wields, and helps handle the setup sweepers that Clefable is unable to. Quagsire also provides this team with an immunity to Volt Switch so that this team isn’t forced into a constant cycle of switching when matched up against teams that utilise Volt Switch and U-turn. As a result, Quagsire is one of the methods that this team employs in order to shut down Pokemon such as Raikou (as long as they don’t run the uncommon Hidden Power Grass). Quagsire most notably ensures that extremely prominent setup sweepers, such as Cobalion, Bisharp, Scizor and Hone Claws Aerodactyl, are unable to gain any traction against Manipulative’s team. This Quagsire runs a Curse set in order to provide the team with a second wincon and therefore help alleviate some of its passivity. Despite using Curse, it runs Scald instead of any other physical move because Quagsire is also used as a response to Fire-types, and is therefore vulnerable to being burned. With a completely physical moveset, Quagsire would be left as a wincon without much attacking capability.


Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
Clefable was one of the focal points of this team. This was primarily because it provided very good insurance against the most common stallbreakers at the time. Its ability Unaware in conjunction with it's Fairy typing allowed it to fend off a lot of setup sweepers that Quagsire was unable to protect the team from. Examples of these included Celebi, Togekiss, Decidueye and Calm Mind Latias, though it still had to be wary of Z-Moves from all of them. Utilising Protect did allow it to render them ineffective, but it was too reliant on prediction. Clefable's secondary role was that of a Wish passer, allowing it to keep Mantine and Quagsire healthy. Manipulative ran Wish + Protect as a method recovery over Moonlight, as it is more sustainable and provides better protection against Z-Moves. Clefable is also one of the team's wincons with its access to Calm Mind. A Bold nature helps Clefable take on strong physical wallbreakers, such as Cawdaunt, Heracross and Conkeldurr, which could otherwise threaten this team. A Calm nature is certainly viable too, however, as it helps Clefable against more powerful special attackers.

Threatlist
:
These 4 primarily utilise Swords Dance to threaten this team. SD Haxorus boasts a monstrous Attack stat and has access to Mold Breaker to nullify the effects of Unaware. In addition to this, it also wields a Dragonium Z, which magnifies the power of its already strong Outrage. This team will have nothing to stand up to this if it is given a free turn, other than baiting an Outrage and revenge killing it with Clefable. Crawdaunt similarly uses Waterium Z, which allows it to break past either Clefable or Quagsire. However, after beating one it will struggle to break past the other. Gliscor's most threatening set is Swords Dance + Toxic. Toxic prevents the Unaware users from nullifying its Swords Dance boosts, and it can threaten the rest of the team once they have been worn down enough. Typically though, the combination of Mantine and Amoongus will be able to fend it off. Decidueye is possibly the second biggest threat after Haxorus in this category. Due to it being a Grass-type, Quagsire cannot stop its Swords Dance set, therefore making Clefable the only check. However, a well-timed Spirit Shackle can break it, allowing Decidueye to proceed to sweep the entire team.
:
CB Bewear is one of the biggest problem this team faces, as it is able to 2HKO everything on this team. It also doesn't mind being Scald burned due to the fact that it is able to run Facade. However, it does have to worry about its Choice Band being knocked off by Alomomola. It can also viably run a SD + Normalium Z set which is able to break past the Unaware Pokemon. Flame Orb Conkeldurr also has a lot of ease pressuring this team due to Facade doing extremely high amounts of damage, and it is also able to maintain longevity due to its access to Drain Punch. However, Conkeldurr flew under the radar for most of the ladder tour. Similarly, Flame Orb Heracross is also a huge threat. It ran Swords Dance, which boosted its Attack to incredible levels, and had access to Facade to threaten Clefable.

: These 4 are the most threatening special attackers for this team to face. Latias can threaten this team by running a Psychium Z set with Calm Mind. It is able to boost up against a majority of the team's members, and just needs to fire off a well timed Shattered Psyche in order to break past Clefable. The other Unaware user, Quagsire, does not enjoy taking Draco Meteors. Nasty Plot Celebi is also a similar threat, running Psychium Z in order to threaten Clefable. It ccan sweep the rest of the team relatively easily due to its typing, Natural Cure and decent bulk. Togekiss is another big threat due to its ability to simply flinch its way past everything on this team. However, it does tend to exhaust a lot of PP by trying to beat Clefable. Nasty Plot Mew with Giga Drain and Psychium Z is also another threat this team has trouble against.

: Gengar and Chandelure are able to threaten this team heavily as long as they carry Taunt. They can 2HKO a majority of the team and Taunt any attempts at healing. In addition to this, they can utilise Ghostium Z in order to break past Quagsire and Mantine. However, they need Spikes support in order to do this effectively. Chandelure's Sub CM set remains a big threat to stall teams, although it will have trouble breaking past Clefable without a Z-Move.

Importable
Alomomola @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpD
Impish Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Toxic
- Knock Off

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell
- Soft-Boiled

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Curse
- Recover

Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Clear Smog
- Foul Play
- Synthesis

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Haze
- Roost
- Defog

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast

Credits
Created by: Manipulative
Written by: Cynde
Grammar checked by: IronBullet
Art by: Team Pokepals
 

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